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Close Calls Skyrocket Under Biden’s Unfilled FAA Leadership!

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According to a preliminary safety report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), commercial airlines in the US have experienced an alarming number of “close calls” in recent months. The New York Times reviewed this report and discovered that there were 46 near-disasters in July alone. This news might make those who are afraid of flying even more anxious.

The incidents of close calls happen multiple times a week, and they illustrate how potential disasters were narrowly avoided. For example, on July 2, a Southwest Airlines pilot had to abruptly abort a landing at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to avoid colliding with a Delta Air Lines plane that was about to take off on the same runway. Just nine days later in San Francisco, an American Airlines jet narrowly missed colliding with a Frontier Airlines plane that had almost crossed its path. A similar incident occurred with a German airliner moments later. These encounters were described as “skin to skin” by the FAA. Another unsettling incident took place two and a half weeks later when an American flight had to quickly climb 700 feet to avoid a collision with a United Airlines plane due to a mistake made by an air traffic controller.

In the midst of these close calls, it is concerning that the FAA is still without a permanent administrator as President Biden has failed to nominate a suitable candidate. The current acting administrator, Polly Trottenberg, is set to step down in October according to the rules that limit the tenure of an unconfirmed chief to 210 days. This lack of leadership puts additional pressure on the agency to address the questions surrounding the increase in near-misses. The most recent incident occurred in San Diego when a business jet flew just 100 feet above a Southwest Airlines plane on the same runway. The FAA claims that both planes were cleared to use the runway, highlighting further concerns about the situation.

One of the factors contributing to these close calls is the understaffing and burnout of air traffic controllers. The New York Times reported that an overwhelming 99 percent of air traffic control facilities in the US are understaffed, with 310 out of 313 not having enough workers. Industry workers attribute this shortage to the mandatory overtime imposed on many air traffic controllers, leading to burnout. In response to the stress of the job, some controllers have resorted to using alcohol and sleeping pills for relief.

The New York Times points to former President Ronald Reagan’s firing of thousands of striking air traffic controllers in 1981 as a contributing factor to the current staffing shortage. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many controllers to leave, and restrictions related to the pandemic slowed down the training of new controllers, exacerbating the staffing shortage. Despite these well-known challenges, it is puzzling why the trillion-dollar infrastructure bill signed by President Biden has not adequately addressed this problem.

The current situation is undeniably alarming, as air traffic controllers themselves have expressed concerns about the safety risks. In a confidential safety report obtained by The New York Times, one controller described the staffing shortage as “beyond unsustainable” and claimed that fatigue has led to an increase in mistakes and risky shortcuts. The report characterized the erosion of safety margins as “tenfold” and concluded that it is only a matter of time before a catastrophic incident occurs.

In conclusion, the recent string of close calls involving commercial airlines brings attention to the potential dangers in the aviation industry. The lack of a permanent FAA administrator, understaffing, and burnout among air traffic controllers serve as significant contributing factors. These issues must be resolved to ensure the safety of air travel and to prevent a future tragedy.

Written by Staff Reports

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